Rubio articles/discussion (merged)
- Thread starter bajaden
- Start date
While Thabeet is still number one on my draft radar, Rubio is not far behind if he declares. While I don't think he would be the "missing piece" of a championship contender, he certainly would be a nice asset to add to the building process as well as being that "attention grabber" that the Kings have sorely lacked since Webber.
PS: Yes, I know we had Artest. I mean "attention grabber" in a positive way.
PS: Yes, I know we had Artest. I mean "attention grabber" in a positive way.
I'm sure we were better off with Jason Williams at the point than Anthony Johnson, but that doesn't mean we were better off with him than we would've been with Paul Pierce. My point is when the goal is winning championships you pick the best player available. How "exciting" the player is should be looked on as a nice bonus, but not as a primary factor in deciding whether to draft a player.
I say buy or trade for another lottery pick and get Rubio and Thabeet. Good guard and big man rotations for years.
http://www.kingsfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31160
PG Ricky Rubio/Beno Udrih
SG Kevin Martin/Francisco Garcia
SF Andres Nocioni/Francisco Garcia
PF Jason Thompson/Dante Greene
C Spencer Hawes/Hasheem Thabeet
http://www.kingsfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31160
PG Ricky Rubio/Beno Udrih
SG Kevin Martin/Francisco Garcia
SF Andres Nocioni/Francisco Garcia
PF Jason Thompson/Dante Greene
C Spencer Hawes/Hasheem Thabeet
I must admit I'm not very knowledgable about the players in the upcoming draft (save for what is posted here and from what I gather in highlights), but RR is definately the most intruiging player (assuming he declares). He seems high risk, but even if he doesn't pan out, you can be sure that we have a top pick next year as well.
Ricky Rubio
For those hungering for more info on Rubio's possible entrance into the 2009 draft, here's for fuel for your fire.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/chris_mannix/03/18/rubio/index.html
For those hungering for more info on Rubio's possible entrance into the 2009 draft, here's for fuel for your fire.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/chris_mannix/03/18/rubio/index.html
if his buyout was an issue for him, why would he even leave the door open as a possibility that he enters in 2009? Wouldn't make sense.
If he is guaranteed a top 3 pick, I think he enters this year. We have a 65% chance of getting a top 3 and right or wrong I don't see the Maloofs passing on this kid when we have such a need at PG.
If he is guaranteed a top 3 pick, I think he enters this year. We have a 65% chance of getting a top 3 and right or wrong I don't see the Maloofs passing on this kid when we have such a need at PG.
The thing i worry about Rubio is his offensive game. Sure he has great vision, feel for the game, and can pass.. but can he shoot the jumper well enough and can he drive the ball with only good to average speed? Granted he is only what 18-19 years old? He'll still have time to work in those areas to improve... but what if he doesnt'? What type of player will he be then.
It appears that he's got a contract that is very favorable to his team - very little money for the next two years (I think on the order of $100K per year) and a big buyout (something like $6M).
I tried running the numbers a few months ago, and it seems like the LEAST sensible draft year for Rubio would be 2010 (assuming he is unable to renegotiate his salary/buyout). If he's going to eat the buyout, he should be making NBA bucks as long as possible, which means 2009, but this would mean effectively going into debt (as opposed to making a pittance in Spain). But he would start breaking even in about 4th year of his contract (relative to 2011 draft date) and would then hit free agency sooner, and that's where the big bucks are. Financially, 2009 is the best choice in the long run, but it will be a crunch initially.
But the best financial choice may not be his only consideration.
I tried running the numbers a few months ago, and it seems like the LEAST sensible draft year for Rubio would be 2010 (assuming he is unable to renegotiate his salary/buyout). If he's going to eat the buyout, he should be making NBA bucks as long as possible, which means 2009, but this would mean effectively going into debt (as opposed to making a pittance in Spain). But he would start breaking even in about 4th year of his contract (relative to 2011 draft date) and would then hit free agency sooner, and that's where the big bucks are. Financially, 2009 is the best choice in the long run, but it will be a crunch initially.
But the best financial choice may not be his only consideration.
I remember hearing the same thing about Jason Kidd when he came out of Cal. If memory serves, he's done OK for himself in the league. This team desperately needs a pass first Pt guard with good basketball IQ and vision. It appears that Rubio fits that need.
Right now this team is guard oriented and at the same time, very selfish on the perimeter. Hawes and Thompson are nothing more than afterthoughts in the offense. I'am so tired of seeing Thompson or Hawes wide open under the basket and then watching someone on the perimeter jack up a three. Instead of working from the inside out. We just work from the outside. When the shots fall, were competitive. When they don't, we dig a hole very quickly.
Beno is very good at driving into the lane. Unfortunately its seldom to set up a teammate, and more likely to be a forced layup. This team needs a floor general to handle the ball, and right now it doesn't have one. No one even comes close. I'am sick to death of selfish players. Which is why I'm not sold on McCants. He has a little too much, me first, in his game to suit me. Whether he can change his attitude is debatable. He's a very talented player that I would love to have if he had a little more team first attitude.
One of the reasons that I like Griffin, is that he's very unselfish. I know, just what we need is another unselfish big. If I have to choose between Rubio and Griffin, I would probably take Rubio. He just fills a more important need for us, and talent wise for their position, I could make a case for Rubio having the edge, skillwise. But even if you rate them as even, Rubio gets the nod on need alone.
Right now this team is guard oriented and at the same time, very selfish on the perimeter. Hawes and Thompson are nothing more than afterthoughts in the offense. I'am so tired of seeing Thompson or Hawes wide open under the basket and then watching someone on the perimeter jack up a three. Instead of working from the inside out. We just work from the outside. When the shots fall, were competitive. When they don't, we dig a hole very quickly.
Beno is very good at driving into the lane. Unfortunately its seldom to set up a teammate, and more likely to be a forced layup. This team needs a floor general to handle the ball, and right now it doesn't have one. No one even comes close. I'am sick to death of selfish players. Which is why I'm not sold on McCants. He has a little too much, me first, in his game to suit me. Whether he can change his attitude is debatable. He's a very talented player that I would love to have if he had a little more team first attitude.
One of the reasons that I like Griffin, is that he's very unselfish. I know, just what we need is another unselfish big. If I have to choose between Rubio and Griffin, I would probably take Rubio. He just fills a more important need for us, and talent wise for their position, I could make a case for Rubio having the edge, skillwise. But even if you rate them as even, Rubio gets the nod on need alone.
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I agree with everything you said. This team really does need a pass first, playmaking pg. I also am sick of watching selfish basketball, especially seeing our young bigs repeatedly getting ignored in the post. I also think Rubio would make Kevin's life a lot easier on offense, as Kevin would be set up much better than he is now and given better scoring opportunities.
Picking Rubio is a bigger risk than picking Griffin, but I think Rubio has more potential. On this team, we have a much greater need for a pg than another pf. If we didn't have JT than I couldn't wait to get my hands on Griffin. But given that we already have a good young prospect at pf, we need to address the pg situation. Teague would be an interesting pick, but we don't need another player who thinks shoot first.
How good Rubio can eventually become remains to be seen. But he is hands down, the best playmaker in the world who is not in the NBA right now.
Picking Rubio is a bigger risk than picking Griffin, but I think Rubio has more potential. On this team, we have a much greater need for a pg than another pf. If we didn't have JT than I couldn't wait to get my hands on Griffin. But given that we already have a good young prospect at pf, we need to address the pg situation. Teague would be an interesting pick, but we don't need another player who thinks shoot first.
How good Rubio can eventually become remains to be seen. But he is hands down, the best playmaker in the world who is not in the NBA right now.
Jason Kidd (age 35) is as athletic as Rubio is right now (age 18), perhaps even moreso. Watch Kidd guarding Rubio in the Olympics.
Go YouTube some old Kidd videos. He was extremely quick and athletic. Obviously he's still valuable even though he's lost a step, but comparing Kidd to Rubio overlooks the athleticism factor, particularly since point guards are more athletic than they were when Kidd came into the league.
Go YouTube some old Kidd videos. He was extremely quick and athletic. Obviously he's still valuable even though he's lost a step, but comparing Kidd to Rubio overlooks the athleticism factor, particularly since point guards are more athletic than they were when Kidd came into the league.
nbadraft has a lot of new threads about Rubio really declaring in this year's draft. This gives me some funny thoughts...Since NBA teams are only allowed to help a buyout up to $500K, wouldn't it be possible if some teams do some transactions under the table and then suddenly a charitable institution will just give those millions of dollars to Rubio to help is buyout? Maybe a free Ricky Rubio foundation can raise several millions with a secret donation from the Maloofs then give it to Ricky for a buyout! hahahaha...
If it has direct quotes, maybe it's true, but I would just like to point out that Marca is without a doubt the most ridiculous tabloid I've ever come across. Being a "soccer" fan, there are lots of rumours etc., Marca have made up blatantly fabricated stories on many, many occasions. They are not reliable at all. They created countless "stories" about Ronaldo leaving for Madrid during the summer, it was beyond ridiculous. Madrids official newspaper, so what do you expect.
I've developed a strong dislike for Marca.
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I translated this, and all it says is that Rubio is going to be an early entry and test the waters. He'll see what the interest is like, and he'll then decide whether to pull out or stay. Considering the buyout etc., even if Rubio gets picked first, he'll essentially be playing his rookie year without pay. I guess he could make it by on endorsements or something like that.
Nothing concrete, but I think he may just declare. Not sure if his stock can get much higher after this, especially since it's not the strongest draft, too.
On another note, I've learned that "Rubio" means "blond".
Nothing concrete, but I think he may just declare. Not sure if his stock can get much higher after this, especially since it's not the strongest draft, too.
On another note, I've learned that "Rubio" means "blond".